Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/745428
FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, the Schwan Food Company has helped Marshall, Minnesota, thrive. Ever since a 23-year-old local delivered his first 14 gallons of ice cream in 1952, the town of nearly 14,000 remained headquarters as the business expanded to more than 400 locations across the United States. By the looks of the new Red Baron Arena & Expo, Schwan leaders haven't neglected their roots. Named after their popular pizza brand, the arena brings year-round ice to Marshall—named one of "The Best Small Towns in America" by Livability—at last. Creating More Ice Time Hockey may be a tradition in southwest Minnesota, but skating 12 months out of the year is not guaranteed. Before Red Baron, local associations scrambled for ice time. The town's single-sheet arena was only open mid-October through March. Youth practiced at 6 a.m. to avoid starting at 9:30 p.m. This put parents of aspiring players in a bind: Should they wake up to take their kids to the rink at 5:30 a.m., or should they register them for sports that start at saner times, like basketball after school? Figure skaters didn't have it much better: they skated Sunday nights. Such considerations were probably on voters' minds when they approved a local sales and lodging tax increase to help build the $17.5 million Red Baron Arena. Local businesses echoed their enthusiasm in investing in a more modern rink. Schwan, for one, donated 29 acres of land. Everybody's efforts paid off when the arena opened this June. During peak winter hours, hockey players and figure skaters can now practice on two sheets. The seasonal Lockwood rink will host community events in the offseason, from May to October. Now, Marshall's traditional Midwest hockey program has room to grow from about 130 participants. Darin Rahm, director of the Marshall Convention & Visitor's Bureau, hopes the arena will attract newcomers. 16 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2016 RINKMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS: RED BARON ARENA Red Baron Arena brings year-round ice to southwest Minnesota // by EMILY ZAK Main Event Featured Rink Red Baron Arena | | Marshall, Minn.